PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has revised an agreement with Olympic National Park for shared maintenance of East Beach and other county roads within park boundaries.
The three commissioners this week unanimously approved a five-year memorandum of understanding that replaces a 2003 pact between the county and the National Park Service.
East Beach Road at Lake Crescent predates the 1938 formation of the park.
The revised agreement, approved Tuesday, clarifies that Clallam County is responsible for all maintenance on the 3.5-mile paved road.
County officials said that clarification is a requirement for a pending grant application meant to improve East Beach Road and its access to the Spruce Railroad Trail.
Other routes
In addition to East Beach Road, the new maintenance agreement covers Camp David Jr., Hoko-Ozette, Joyce-Piedmont and Lake Dawn roads and a 5-mile section of Hurricane Ridge Road between the Olympic National Park Visitor Center and Lake Dawn Road.
“One of the main changes is that it identifies that the park is not obligated on county roads to assist the county with maintenance, but they can contribute, as they have done this year on the Hoko-Ozette Road,” Tyler told commissioners.
“They sometimes now have access to funds, but they don’t necessarily have access to people and equipment. So this clarifies language that ‘no, you’re not obligated, but if you would like to contribute, you can.’
“And they’ve been good in doing so,” Tyler added. “I think we’ll see more of that in the future.”
Most of the shared maintenance between the county and the park is for plowing and sanding in winter weather, Tyler said.
County maintenance
Under the new agreement, the county will perform all maintenance on East Beach, Joyce-Piedmont and Hoko-Ozette roads.
County crews will plow and sand Lake Dawn Road and the county’s portion of Hurricane Ridge Road as needed from Mondays through Thursdays and notify the park of any hazardous trees they encounter.
In turn, the park will maintain Camp David Jr. Road, plow and sand Lake Dawn Road and the county’s portion of Hurricane Ridge Road from Fridays through Sundays and evaluate hazardous trees along East Beach, Joyce-Piedmont and Hoko-Ozette roads.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
